They whistled
Walking early with their pals
because the deep cold black coal face

They whistled
Shining hard their Sunday shoes
because their boots could not be clean

They whistled
Reading close their Daily News
because the lock-less outhouse door  

They whistled
Climbing up the muddy *****
because the spiteful  Maxim's fire  

They whistle
When again they think of that
because the screams
because the screams